$12 million medical malpractice award for Connecticut woman

We put a lot of faith in our medical professionals. When we’re injured or sick, all we really want is to feel better. However, when a doctor makes a mistake that affects our health, it not only shatters our faith in our physician, but it can be very expensive and painful to recover. In some cases, patients don’t recover from a doctor’s error.

One woman in Connecticut was recently awarded $12 million by a jury in her medical malpractice case against two doctors and Danbury Hospital that was filed in 2010. The lawsuit alleged that the woman went in for a hernia operation in 2008 and as a result, she suffered a perforation of her colon. She ended up in a coma for a month. She endured several surgeries to correct the problem and contracted a severe infection. When the surgeries were finally over, most of her large intestines had been removed.

One of the doctors in the operating rooms was a surgical resident, but the woman said that she didn’t know that a resident was going to be operating on her. The resident was the one who allegedly perforated the woman’s colon.

The jury only took about 3.5 hours to deliver their verdict in the case. The hospital says that it may appeal.

Those who have been injured because of medical malpractice or negligence have a right to seek compensation for their damages and losses. Medical professionals are required to provide treatment that meets the accepted standard of care. While such recompense won’t change what happened, it may make things easier financially for the victim and his or her family.

Source:  The Washington Times, “Connecticut woman wins $12M in malpractice case” Dave Collins, Associated Press, May. 30, 2014